Rising stock prices helped defined benefit pension plans at large, public U.S. companies increase their “funded ratios” in 2009, analysts say.
The analysts, at Towers Watson & Company, New York (NYSE:TW), looked at results for the 100 largest U.S. companies that sponsor defined benefit pension plans.
Stock market gains and cash contributions caused plan assets to increase 12% between 2008 and 2009, to $863 billion.